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San Diego, CA: May 10, 2018: The ATD International Conference & Exposition boasted record attendance as headliners Barack Obama, Marcus Buckingham, and Closing Keynoter Connie Podesta delivered timely topics and cutting-edge strategies from the start of the 4-day conference to the closing session.
The conference hosted more than 10,000 registrants who attended 300+ sessions, for more over 14 hours of education.
Connie Podesta, MS, CPAE, CSP shared one of her most requested topics, Life Would Be Easy if it Weren’t for Other People, pulled from her acclaimed book of the same title. It Read More

The Proof-Gathering Side of Leadership
In courtrooms, decisions are made based on actual proof. Hard evidence. Indisputable facts. The same principle should apply to leaders who determine the next career steps for their employees. The key word there is “should.”
Unfortunately, it often doesn’t happen that way.
I know that firsthand from my years of experience in HR. Leaders would show up to my office with an urgent request to fire a trouble-making employee, and I was more than happy to assist with that process. But when I asked for a copy of the file that documented the poor Read More

It Could Cost You Top Talent
by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta
Throw out that statement and prepare for some serious pushback. I know because I’ve done it. And the response is…well, passionate. And a bit defensive.
“No way! I reward them and recognize them every chance I get! They’re my rock stars!”
“Are you kidding me? I worship my top performers! They carry the weight for the whole team!”
“I would NEVER do anything to undermine them! They always go above and beyond.”
Here’s the thing: Leaders wouldn’t intentionally penalize their top performers, but it might be Read More

Quit Ignoring Unacceptable Behaviors and Attitudes
by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta
Consider this scenario. When the report says customer satisfaction is way down, the manager wants to get to the bottom of it.
The questions are fast and furious. Have the salespeople fallen down on the job? What’s the standard script for the customer service staff when calls come in? Are the clients becoming pickier because of the tough economy? Perhaps a competitor is starting to offer better products and features, so we are no longer measuring up.
In the business world, there are Read More

Leadership: The Irony of Disruption
by Business Motivational Speaker Connie Podesta
Scan the pages of any business publication, and you’ll come away with the message that successful leaders are supposed to innovate. Disrupt. Push the envelope. Think outside the box. Break the rules.
Oh yes, disruption is very trendy right now.
Let’s dive into that. Businesses have played a bit of a semantics game with the word “disruption.” For most of our lives, disruption was something to be avoided because it led to discord, turmoil, and problems. Not a healthy environment in which to do work or Read More

Avoiding the Leadership “Golden Rule” Trap
by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta
Even those who appear to be remarkably humble and self-aware can fall for this one.
As children, most of us were taught “the golden rule”: we should treat others the way we want to be treated. Definitely, a great mantra for life. The world needs more kindness and consideration. No arguments there.
But as leaders, this deeply ingrained belief could be inadvertently reducing our effectiveness.
Think about that for a moment. If we treat all of our team members the way we want to be treated, we Read More